Volume flow estimation by colour duplex

Abstract

Objective: to assess the accuracy of volume blood flow using a digitised colour duplex scanner. Design: observer-blinded study. Materials and methods: method comparison was performed with linear regression analysis of 89 paired observations in 11 anaesthetised pigs. A Siemens Sonoline Elegra® ultrasound system was used for transcutaneous volume flow estimation using invasive transit time flowmetry by Cardiomed® as a reference. Results: for the individual measurement we found a standard error of the estimate (SEE) of 22 ml/min. For the regression line, however, the SEE was only 0.2 ml/min. Conclusions: digitised colour-duplex sonography has a volume flow measurement error that is too high for single measurements in the individual patient for the method to be useful in clinical decision making, but sufficient for examinations of groups and comparison of groups.